Victor Wembanyama continues to recover from a calf strain that has cost him nearly a month of action.
The general consensus is that Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are making a prudent, sensible decision that prioritizes the player's long-term health, especially after a blood clot limited him to only 46 games played last season.
This approach seems likely to maximize the window in which the 7-5 unicorn can contribute to the Spurs' resurgent championship ambitions.
However, Wembanyama has missed the past 12 games — half of San Antonio's season to date — while recovering from this soft tissue injury. Even as Wemby works toward a potential return against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday night, it means he is getting dangerously close to not meeting the NBA's 65-game threshold to qualify for major end-of-season awards.
How many games has Wemby missed this season?
Wembanyama has played in 12 of San Antonio's 24 games this season.
If Wembanyama misses five more games between now and April, he will be ineligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
In addition, Wembanyama would remain ineligible for a supermax contract extension, which could see him make an estimated $65 million per year when signed.
Wembanyama will have to meet the 65-game threshold either this season or next to qualify for a major award like MVP, which would put him in position to ink the lucrative supermax extension. That would tack on an additional $50 million to the rookie extension he is likely to sign with San Antonio.
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